Diamondbacks 4, Rockies 2
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Mar. 17) — St. Patrick’s Day saw players having corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes for lunch, naturally. But it also saw an injury update on pitcher Corbin Martin, among others. In addition, it saw Ryne Nelson make a spring start against the Colorado Rockies. It saw the Arizona Diamondbacks top the Rockies, 4–2. Kyle Lewis continued his spring progression. Geraldo Perdomo had a home run called back due to a pitch clock violation by the pitcher. And catcher Carson Kelly was thrown out trying to steal…home.
Injury Updates
Corbin Martin has a “right lat tendon tear,” according to manager Torey Lovullo. This tendon is at the base of the armpit and connects the shoulder muscles to the latissimus dorsi, also known as the “lats.” The team is “working on second opinions.” While there is no timetable for return yet, Lovullo said “we’re talking months instead of weeks.”
Lovullo added a sympathetic message for and about Martin. “He’s probably wondering, after talking to him a little bit like, ‘Why did this happen?’ He’s had a string of tough injuries. There’s nothing he could have done to prevent this. This is just one of those baseball mishaps, one of those situations where he was getting after it on the field and performing at a very high level. And he just got injured. There’s nothing he can do about that. I know he’s probably asking, ‘Could I have done more? Was I prepared?’ I don’t think so. Based on what he was given us, he was an extremely prepared athlete and functioning at a very high level. Those were my asks. He should be proud of the way he’s performing. (It’s) just unfortunate, the timing of this injury.”
Other Injuries
Outfielder Jake McCarthy was scratched from Friday’s lineup. He has been feeling flu-like symptoms and was sent home to rest and recover. His status will be day-to-day. First baseman Christian Walker is still day-to-day with a bruise on the left hip. Lovullo said “he’s still a little sore in that area” and added that the decision not to play him was Lovullo’s. “He’s wanting to play, wanting to get out there,” Lovullo said before adding that there was still a bit of tightness while swinging the bat.
Both Diego Castillo and Geraldo Perdomo, who collided Wednesday while both going for a shallow fly in center, were in the lineup Friday. Lovullo said they “both feel good” but are “both a little sore.” However, based on the “baseball activity” they did Thursday, they’re both ready to go.
Closer Update
Reliever Mark Melancon will likely start the season on the 60-day injured list with a subscapularis strain. According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, Melancon will be out “a matter of months.” In addition, Melancon himself said there were a pair of tears, but he will not need surgery, according to Gilbert. Nevertheless, Melancon is currently not expected back until the All-Star Break at the earliest.
Lovullo said previously that the team currently has no set closer but instead will rely on matchups. The Melancon and Martin injuries do not change that. He said, “I want these guys go out and perform as much as they possibly can” before he decides. He continued, “I don’t know what I’m going to do. What we’ve done in the past is we’ve brought in closers — Holland, Boxberger, Melancon. They’ve been told they’re gonna be the closer. They come in and get the closing opportunities. Nobody has been promised anything. I think the new normals for young pitchers are they just get the ball and they take it in any inning they can. That’s going to be my early mindset. I would like for somebody to emerge. But it might not be a typical closer. It might be a five-out closer. I don’t know where it’s gonna go.”
Lovullo and the staff “need more time to evaluate” the relievers. In addition, the Melancon and Martin injuries “open up a couple more opportunities for guys to take advantage of.” He concluded, “I want guys to step up and do it. That’s what they’re supposed to do. The timing of spring training allows them to do it. And I want to see some guys execute.”
Ryne Nelson
Starting pitcher Ryne Nelson went 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits while walking one and fanning six. He threw 67 pitches, 47 for strikes. “I felt good,” he relayed after leaving the game. “Felt like some adjustments in the stuff that I’ve been working on are paying off. I’m seeing some results. Being able to land off-speed pitches and leverage counts is a good way to help you out. It’ll help you get some outs when you’re behind in the count and get some ground balls.”
One of the adjustments was his breaking ball. Nelson is trying to “find the comfort and fine-tune it” to where he can land it for strikes. He also wants to be able to “bounce it on the plate for swings and misses.” He concluded, “I feel like I’m building towards that. I’m getting closer. The work I’ve been doing with pitching coaches is paying off.”
Double Steal Goes Awry
In the top of the sixth, Carson Kelly reached on a one-out triple. A groundout by Diego Castillo with a drawn-in infield did not score Kelly. When Yairo Munoz walked, that put runners on the corners. Munoz bolted for second on a double steal attempt. Kelly broke late for home. Rockies catcher Elias Diaz tagged Kelly with ease, retiring the side.
Lovullo said after the game that the play was not run correctly. “We have a play in our tool belt that calls for something like that. And we’re going to try to take looks at that type of stuff. Even though Carson is not a fast runner, we felt like we could exploit the coverage there. Unfortunately, we got our signals mixed a little bit. But that’s what spring training is for. We’ll find a way to get it done the right way.”
Lovullo explained how the play was supposed to work. “There’s a lot of room over at third base. Carson is a long way down. Instead of 90 feet, he probably has 65 feet to run. So we’re betting on the timing of the catcher throwing the ball and the return throw to home plate that Carson, if it’s done properly, can get to home plate standing up.”
Kelly should have gone as soon as the ball was thrown. “It’s a timing issue,” Lovullo explained. “That’s where we got our wires crossed. We’re didn’t get the message to Carson. Half the group got the message, half didn’t.” It happens a lot in spring training, so Lovullo operates from the standpoint of it being okay to make a mistake as long as you learn from it. “First time, definitely, I’m forgiving. Second time, we’ve got to talk about it and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Pitch Clock Violation Calls Back Home Run
In the top of the fifth, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo hit a home run. Or so he thought. As Jose Urena released the pitch, plate umpire Jordan Baker was waving it off for a pitch clock violation on the pitcher. By rule, the pitch never occurred, so the home run did not count. This drew hearty boos from the crowd.
“He got it right,” Lovullo said of Baker making the call. “Things like that are gonna pop up all year long. As long as the umpires are calling it consistently, with zero you stop play and call it a ball. You’re not in the box, you stop play and call it a strike.”
Kyle Lewis
Offseason acquisition Kyle Lewis continued his spring progression. Friday he went 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBI. In addition, he played left field. Given his recent knee troubles, this was a big test. Lovullo said he’ll get a day off, be the designated hitter, and get a day off again. “Everything is coming out just fine,” Lovullo said. He confirmed that range is the area of concern, specifically the comfort of his knee and strength of his lower half when having to run a long way to make plays. Lewis’ arm is of no concern at all.
Looking Ahead
The Diamondbacks play again Saturday afternoon at Salt River Fields in a split-squad game. They will face the Cleveland Guardians. Zac Gallen will take the hill for the Diamondbacks. In a battle of righties, he will face Cal Quantrill, just returned from national team duty for Canada. First pitch will be at 1:10 pm Arizona Time.
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